Welcome to the Lone Star State, the land of barbecue, Tex-Mex, oil rigs, and the largest horse population in the US.

The four years of medical school play a crucial role in your career as a medical professional. Texas has some of the best medical schools in the country (and some that offer the lowest in-state tuition). 

However, choosing one that suits your career goals, grades, and specialization can be a mind-numbing task. This guide lists the best medical schools in Texas, program lengths and details, admission requirements, and the key features that set certain schools apart. 

Top Medical Schools in Texas

1. Baylor College of Medicine
2. The University of Texas Southwestern Medical School
3. The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio Joe R. and Teresa Lozano Long School of Medicine

1. Baylor College of Medicine

U.S. News Best Medical School Ranking: #16 in Primary Care

Tuition: $27,954.75 (in-state, full-time) 

Average GPA: 3.93

Average MCAT Score: 518

Acceptance Rate: 4.3%

Baylor College of Medicine is located in Houston, Texas. According to US News, it ranks #22 for Research and #16 for Primary Care. The college is one of the country’s least expensive private medical schools. It has lauded specialization courses for Anesthesiology, Internal Medicine, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Pediatrics, Radiology, and Surgery. 

Baylor College of Medicine, one of the largest pediatric hospitals in the USA, solely operates the Texas Children’s Hospital. An accredited medical school, Baylor College of Medicine covers various subjects such as medical research, global health, health policy, and space medicine. 

Baylor College of Medicine has a dedicated staff comprising 2,648 faculty members. It has a supportive environment that instills learning and growth and drives you toward achieving your career goals while you’re a medical student. The MD Program at Baylor College of Medicine is a four-year intensive course covering foundational sciences, clinical rotations, simulated learning, and interprofessional learning experiences. 

Admission Details: Applicants must have at least 90 undergraduate semester hours from an accredited college or university in the United States. There is a complete breakdown of course requirements on their website. In addition, applicants must sit for the MCAT. 

2. The University of Texas Southwestern Medical School

U.S. News Best Medical School Ranking: #16 in Primary Care

Tuition: $22,651 (in-state, full-time) 

Average GPA: 3.84

Average MCAT Score: 515

Acceptance Rate: 15%

The University of Texas Southwestern Medical School ranks #16 for Primary Care and #25 for Research. Its specialties are in Internal Medicine, Surgery, and Obstetrics and Gynecology and it has a large staff comprising 2,760 full-time teachers. The school receives about 5,000 applicants each year and admits 230 of them, making it one of Texas’s most competitive medical schools. At UT Southwestern Medical School, students have access to diverse opportunities, high-quality education, a supportive learning community, and affordable tuition.

Admission Details: UT Southwestern Medical School has a list of prerequisite courses students should have completed on enrollment. You should take the MCAT and the CASPer, after which  you can apply using the TMDSAS system. After completing your secondary application and submitting the required documents, you will receive an invitation to interview. The interview hints at the advancement of your application, but it does not guarantee an offer. After the interview phase, if accepted, you will receive an offer by email. 

3. The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio Joe R. and Teresa Lozano Long School of Medicine

U.S. News Best Medical School Ranking: #36 in Primary Care

Tuition: $17,581 (in-state, full-time) 

Average GPA: 3.78

Average MCAT Score: 510

Acceptance Rate: 8.44%

The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio Joe R. and Teresa Lozano Long School of Medicine ranks #36 for Primary Care and #47 for Research. It trains the largest number of physicians in South Texas and has an annual intake of 900 students and 800 residents in training. This medical school has accreditation from the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME).

Admission Details: Applicants must complete the prerequisite coursework with a minimum grade of C. It accepts only NEW MCAT2015 scores, and applicants must complete the CASPer exam for the interview round. Other factors like applicants’ experience, academic metrics, and personal quality are also considered. 

Some Honorable Mentions:

• Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center
• University of Texas McGovern Medical School
• Texas Christian University School of Medicine
• Sam Houston State University College of Osteopathic Medicine

How Do I Get Accepted to the Top Medical Schools in Texas?

As you may have noticed, the top three medical schools in Texas have one test in common, the MCAT. Regardless of which university you apply to, med schools in Texas consider the MCAT a valuable standardized test to admit students. Thus, it’s crucial for students to take MCAT prep classes to help them get admitted.

Considering how difficult the test is, most med school aspirants hope to pass the first time so as not to need to retake the MCAT. 

Blueprint Prep has over 100 on-demand video explanations and a customizable Study Planner Tool to meet all your study requirements. Our exams and interface are the most representative of the real MCAT so you know what to expect when you sit for the test. Blueprint MCAT prep has one of the best and most effective courses, which can triple your acceptance rate! A recent survey indicates an average increase of 15 points among students who prepared with Blueprint. 

You can take advantage of our time-efficient online course with integrated learning modules that use engaging videos and interactive quizzes. You can also save on MCAT Practice Exam bundles.

Are you feeling too overwhelmed and stressed with MCAT preparations? Take things one step at a time and try out the free resources offered by Blueprint. Once you are steady and ready to dive into MCAT preparations and even plot your MCAT study schedule (to help you decide when to take the MCAT), we are here to help you. Yeehaw! 

*Blueprint Self-Paced Course students had an average increase of 15 points from their first Blueprint Diagnostic Exam to their best score on either a Blueprint Full Length Exam or self-reported score on an AAMC Practice Exam. The population of 596 students includes all students who started their prep in 2022 and completed a minimum of 2,500 questions and 155 modules in the Self-Paced Course.